1.11 Runtime Views

1.11.1 About the Runtime Parameter Form

The Runtime Parameter Form is a dialog box that optionally displays at runtime in which you can override default parameter values (for example, values that modify SELECT statements, route the report output to a specified device, and so on). You define the format of the Runtime Parameter Form in the Paper Parameter Form view. If you do not define a Runtime Parameter Form in the Paper Parameter Form view, Oracle Reports Builder displays a default Runtime Parameter Form for you at runtime.

Change the parameters as desired and then click the Run Paper Layout button in the toolbar to run the report.

Alternatively, you can click the Cancel Run button in the toolbar to cancel.

1.11.2 About the Previewer

The Previewer displays on your screen how the printed version of your report will look. In the Previewer, you can scroll though a single page of report output, page through the entire report, and split the screen to view different sections of the same report concurrently. You can also perform the following actions:

Table 1-3 Print previewer actions

To...

Click in the toolbar...

Print the report

the Print button

Specify page setup settings

the Page Setup button

Open a new Previewer

the New Previewer button

Close the Previewer

the Close Previewer button

Zoom in

the Zoom In button

Zoom out

the Zoom Out button

A physical page (or panel) is the size of a page that will be output by your printer. A logical page is the size of one page of your actual report (it can be any number of physical pages wide or long). The Previewer displays the logical pages of your report output, one at a time.

Access

To display the Previewer:

choose File > Print Preview.

Usage notes

To speed the execution of your report, avoid "fetching ahead" when sending report output to the Previewer or Paper Design view. The following items can result in fetching ahead when referenced before the data on which they rely:

total number of pages/panels

grand totals

break columns that are formulas

break columns that have Value if Null specified

Matrix (cross-product) groups also cause fetching ahead. To cross-tabulate the data, Oracle Reports must first fetch all of the data.

It should be noted that while these items slow down the Previewer or Paper Design view, they do not affect performance when writing to a file or some other destination.

Note:

A column can cause fetching ahead even if it is not displayed. For example, a grand total may not appear in the report output, but since it is in the report, fetching ahead may still occur when Oracle Reports calculates it.